Exercise equipment adapted for use with a chair

ABSTRACT

An exercise device includes a support member, including an interior surface for receiving and providing a tension fit with a pole received within an interior of the support member. A first arm is slidably mounted on the support member A second arm is slidably mounted on the support member. The first arm and the second arm are each slidable along the support member between at least a first position and a second position; the first arm and second arm are coaxial in the first position and the first arm and second arm are parallel in the second position. A first adjustment ring and a second adjustment ring are each slidably mounted along a respective one of the first arm member and second arm member A first elastic and a second elastic member are each affixed to a respective first adjustment ring and second adjustment ring. The position of a respective adjustment ring along a respective support arm controls the amount of force needed to perform an exercise by user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to exercise equipment, and in particular,exercise equipment, which can be used in conjunction with a conventionaloffice chair in an unobtrusive manner.

For more than a decade, it has been recognized, that fitness andexercise, including toning and muscle building are as important to goodhealth as good nutrition. However, during the same period, timeconstraints from work, family, and social commitments have made itincreasingly difficult for the average person to find time to exercise.

Additionally, in the prior art, weight training in particular requireselaborate equipment such as the Universal® gym, Bowflex® equipment,Nautilus® gym or the like. This requires great expense to obtain suchequipment for the home, or a time commitment to travel to a health clubto utilize such equipment.

Some equipment has been developed which allows exercise in an office,such as hand weights. Although satisfactory for developing andmaintaining muscle tone, hand weights are difficult to store,particularly in today's cubicle society and require multiple sets ofhand weights in order to do exercises of varying weights or to increasemuscle mass as the exercises become easier and easier. This exacerbatesthe storage issue.

Accordingly, a device, which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior artand, among other things, is easily storable, provides multiple exercisemovements, and resistance at a variety of weights is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise device includes a securing member for securing the deviceabout a chair, an anchor mechanism extends from the securing member forpreventing rotation of the device during use. A first arm is rotatablyaffixed to the securing member and a second arm is rotatably secured tothe securing member, the first arm and second arm are capable ofrotating through at least a 90° angle to a position between at least afirst position in which the arms are substantially parallel to eachother and a second position in which the arms are substantially coaxialwith each other. A first elastic member is anchored to the first arm anda second elastic member is anchored to the second arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the first elastic member is selectivelyanchored to the first arm at one of at least two positions along thefirst arm. The second elastic member is anchored to the second arm at atleast one of two positions. The elastic member is anchored at itsproximate end to the arm and a handle is affixed to the distal end ofeach respective elastic member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to thefollowing description taken in connection with the following drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus affixed to a chairin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus affixed to achair in a second position for performing difference exercises inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an exercise device in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exercise device in accordance withthe invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B are schematic representations of the use of the inventionto exercise biceps;

FIGS. 6A, 6B are schematic views of the use of the invention to exercisetriceps;

FIGS. 7A, 7B are schematic views showing use of the invention toexercise the stomach;

FIGS. 8A, 8B are schematic diagrams showing use of invention to exercisethe legs;

FIGS. 9A, 9B are schematic diagrams illustrating use of the invention toexercise the shoulders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which an exercise, generallyindicated at 100 constructed in accordance with the invention isprovided. The invention is directed to an exercise device adapted tooperate in conjunction with conventional office chairs. Applicantssubmit that although the chair may be described in detail, the chairdoes not makeup part of the invention.

A conventional office desk chair 50 includes a seat 52 a back 54connected thereto, and optionally arms 56 disposed on either side ofseat 52 or extending from either side of back 54. A base 58 has a seriesof legs 60 with casters 62 affixed at the distal end thereof. A pole 64either directly or through other mechanisms 66 supports seat 52 on base58.

Exercise device 100 includes a support member 120 having an interiorsurface 122 adapted to receive and retain by friction fit center pole64. In a preferred embodiment, the support member 120 is circular, theinterior surface 122 of support member 120 is circular and is lined witha high friction substance such as rubber, etched plastic, light tackyglue or the like. In a preferred embodiment, support member 120 isformed by mirrored C-shaped halves 124, 126 which are rotatably attachedto each other at a hinge 128. Threaded O-rings 130 a, 130 b O-shapedrings 130 a (FIG. 4) are disposed on a respective C-shaped half 124 atan opposite side of support member 120 from hinge 128 (FIG. 3). Screws132 are provided extending through a respective O-shaped ring pair 130a, 130 b to secure support member 120 in a closed position. Othersecuring structures such as Velcro® straps, which hold halves 124, 126together, may be used.

A first arm member 140 is slideably rotatably mounted to support member120. A second arm member 142 is slideably rotatably mounted to supportmember 120. In a preferred embodiment, a respective arm member 140, 142is slideably mounted to a respective C-shaped half 124, 126. Eachrespective arm 140, 142 includes a mounting member 146 which is receivedwithin a slot 129 of each respective C-shaped member 124, 126 andtravels along the slot between the first position in which arms 140, 142are substantially coaxial to a second position where arms 140, 142 arein substantially parallel, i.e., substantially along the entire arcformed by the C-shaped halves 124.

Anchors 150 extend from support member 120 and engage legs 60 of base 58to further prevent rotation of support member 120 about support pole 64and movement of support member 150 along center pole 64.

For ease of description, the structure of a single arm, 140 will bedescribed with the understanding that the corresponding numbered “b”component of arm 142 is the mirror image of the structure in arm 140.Arm 140 is formed with at least a first slot 148 a formed therein. Aplurality of notches 150 a are formed at spaced intervals along slot 148a.

An adjustment ring 160 a is slideably mounted about the exterior of armmember 140. Adjustment ring 160 a has a gnarled outer surface 161 a tofacilitate gripping and movement along arm 140. A hook 162 a extendsfrom the interior of adjustment ring 160 a through slot 148 a into acavity formed by the interior of arm member 142. Hook 162 a isdimensioned to freely slide along slot 148 a and to be selectivelymaintained in each of respective notches 150 a.

An opening 164 a is formed at the end of arm member 140 farthest awayfrom support member 120. In a preferred embodiment, a circular member166 a having smooth rounded surfaces is disposed at opening 164 a. Anelastic band 170 a has a first end and a second end. The first orproximal end of elastic band 170 a is secured by hook 162 a. A second ordistal end of elastic member 170 a extends through opening 164 a andabout rounded member 166 a. It's noted, that rounded member166 a may bebeveled or formed with a groove to guide, receive and aid in retainingelastic member 170 a in place during exercise. In a preferrednon-limiting example, a gripping handle 172 a is affixed to the distalend of elastic member 170 a.

In a preferred embodiment, elastic band 170 a is formed of rubber, butmay be also formed of a spring, a silicon based material, or the likewhich allows elastic deformation in the direction of a force withoutbreaking and return to an underformed state. In a preferred embodiment,the material is selected such that the property of the material is thatit provides a constant resistance through the entire stretch length.

The use of adjustments rings 160 a, hooks 162 a and slot 148 a is apreferred embodiment for invention which allows adjustment of the amountof work required to exercise as discussed below. However, any fasteningmeans such as Velcro® loops, a series of hooks to receive circular endof elastic band 178, or the like, which allow for adjustment of thelength of elastic band 170 a prior to being stretched are within thescope of the invention.

During use, screws 132 are removed from O-shaped rings 130 b to allowsupport member 120 to open around hinge 128 to receive support pole 64.Interior surface 122 of support member 120 engages support pole 64 and atension fit is created as C-shaped halves 124 are tightened about centerpole 64 by screws 132 and O-shaped rings 130 b. Anchors 136 are fixed tolegs 60 of base 58.

Anchors 136 may be hooks integrally formed with support member 120dimension to engage leg 60 or they may be Velcro® straps, elastic bands,strings or the like, to prevent movement of support member 120 alongsupport pole 64.

Reference is now made specifically to FIG. 4. Assuming that hook 162 ais engaged within notch 150 a second most from support member 120 asseen in FIG. 5. Adjustment ring 160 a is rotated in direction of arrow Ato move hook 162 into slot 148 a. Because with many materials theresistance increases with stretch length, resistance can be increased ordecreased dependent upon the notch 150 a selected for receiving hook 162a. Accordingly, to adjust the tension, adjustment ring 160 a along withhook 162 a is slid along slot 148 a to a desired notch 150 acorresponding to the desired tension.

Dependent upon the exercise desired, arm members 140, 142 are rotatedabout support member 120 and locked in a desired position. For ease ofdiscussion the exercises to be discussed shall be done in a position inwhich either arms 140, 142 are substantially coaxial or a secondposition as shown in FIG. 2 where arms 140, 142 are substantiallyparallel. However, it should be understood that it is well within thescope of the invention to lock either one of the arms independently atany position in between those shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 a-9 b in which exercises in accordancewith the invention sharing use are provided. In a first exercise, forexercising biceps, arms 140, 142 are placed in the coaxial position. Auser 300 grasps handles 172 a, b which hold the user's arms at a 90°angle at the elbow and moves the handle towards the body in thedirection of arrow C.

Shoulders may be exercised as shown in FIGS. 9 a, 9 b by grasping thehandle 172 b across the chest and pulling on elastic band 170 b in adirection to bring an arm 310 of user 300 at a substantially right anglewith a torso 320 in at least two planes.

As seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B, arms 140, 142 are then rotated to be in asecond position in which they are substantially parallel with each otherextending in the direction of chair back 56. Triceps are exercised bybending arm 310 at a right angle and moving arm 310 in the direction ofarrow D to extend arm 310. As seen in FIGS. 7 a, 7 b with the sameorientation of arms 140, 142 the stomach may be exercised by user 300grasping handles 172 behind the head and bending at the stomach in theseating position to rotate the body in the direction arrow E. Lastly,legs 330 of user 300 may be exercised by wrapping handles 172 a aroundan ankle or replacing handles 172 a with foot cuffs and extending legs330 in the direction of arrow F.

It should be known that, among the other advantages of the invention,because of the rounded surface of rounded member 166, wear and tear onelastic band 170 a is significantly decreased. By providing anapparatus, which is secured to the chair and in the position in whicharms 140, 142 run parallel, is substantially coextensive with the chair,the storage issue is solved because the device may be neatly folded inplace on the chair. In a preferred, but not limiting example, theexercise device is made from high strength lightweight plastics and isformed as a top half and bottom half. However, it is contemplated thatthe device may be made of other materials such as lightweight metalslike aluminum by way of non-limiting example, and may be formed from aunitary construction.

By providing an exercise apparatus, which easily mounts to pre-existingoffice furniture, and is capable of providing a resistance device at avariety of positions through the use of the movable arms or at variouspositions about the support member, a variety of exercises are offeredto the user. By offering adjustable tension, there is no need to storeor utilize several pieces of equipment to perform the same exercise.

Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out novelfeatures of the present invention as applied to preferred embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutionsand change in the form and detail are contemplated and may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only asindicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. It is also to beunderstood that the following claims are intended to cover all of thegeneric and specific features of the invention herein described and allstatements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of thelanguage, might be said to fall there between.

1. An exercise device comprising a support member, the support memberincluding an interior surface for receiving and providing a tension fitwith a pole received within an interior of the support member, a firstarm slidably mounted on said support member; a second arm slidablymounted on said support member, said first arm and said second arm eachbeing slidable along said support member between at least a firstposition and a second position, the first arm and second arm beingsubstantially coaxial in the first position and the first arm and secondarm being substantially parallel in the second position; a first elasticmember and a second elastic member each being selectively affixed to atleast one of two positions along a respective arm, the position alongthe arm at which the elastic member is affixed controlling the amount offorce needed to perform an exercise with said first and second elasticmembers.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a firstadjustment ring and a second adjustment ring, each being slidablymounted along a respective one of the first arm and second arm.
 3. Theexercise device of claim 1, further comprising a first handle and asecond handle, a respective first handle and second handle being affixedat an end of a respective first elastic member and second elasticmember.
 4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said first elasticmember and second elastic members are each disposed within a respectivefirst arm and second arm; and at least a first end of ach of first andsecond members extending from the respective first arm and second arm.5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of first arm andsecond arm has an exit, the respective elastic member extending throughsaid exit, a rounded member being disposed at each respective exit thefirst elastic member and second elastic member contacting a respectivefirst rounded member and second rounded member as it extends from arespective arm.
 6. The exercise device of claim 2, further comprising afirst hook and a second hook extending from a respective adjustmentring, the first elastic member and the second elastic member beingaffixed to said respective first and second hook, a respectiveadjustment ring moving a respective hook between said at least oneposition to at least a second position.
 7. The exercise device of claim6, further comprising a slot formed in each one of the first and secondarms, a plurality of notches formed along each slot, each hook extendingthrough a respective slot, the adjustment ring being movable along theslot, each hook selectively engaging any one of the notches along theslot for adjusting the tension experienced during an exercise.
 8. Theexercise device of claim 1, wherein the pole is a support pole for achair.
 9. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising anchorsextending from the support member to prevent movement of the supportmember along the pole.